One of the rarest creatures in Dallas County made an even rarer appearance at the Dallas County Courthouse: A Republican candidate for state office.

Patti Smith, the Republican Candidate for Supreme Court Judge, place 2, came to Dallas County Tuesday as one of the 18 campaign stops she’ll be making in a three-day period.

Dallas County was the third stop she made.

“She’s the first Republican candidate to come and campaign in our county since ’96 when Wynton Blount came through,” Dallas County Republican Party Chairman Col. Brock Wells said. “I feel if she will take the effort to come through the Black Belt and stop in Dallas County then she’s sincere about taking care of all the people which I think is what we need in a Supreme Court Justice”

One of 14 children, Smith is crossing Alabama with more than a dozen family members in tow. While she visited with officials and courthouse workers, her family criss-crossed the streets of Selma, letting as many people know about her and her candidacy as possible.

Smith has been a judge in Shelby County for 25 years. Previously, she was a prosecutor for the district attorney’s office and in private practice.

She believes her experience as a judge in Shelby can help her on the Supreme Court if elected.

“I found that I really have a passion for working with kids and families,” she said.

Smith said she’s served on several committees and boards dealing with children, appointed by the governor.0

Wells was proud to have Smith here and said she’d been well received by the community.

“I think that it is important that we have a woman representative on the Supreme Court,” Wells said. “A woman adds the total perspective.”

Smith is up for election on Nov. 2. She’s running against Democrat Robert Monroe.